Chapter 5 - My Costar Is Photogenic

The mole under Yao Shen's eye is redone, and he's ushered into the dressing room.

Yan Shuyi's usually wears the white robes of a Daoist, with wide trailing sleeves and embroidered flower and leaf patterns on the chest.

His only accessories are silver crowns and the occasional jade hairpin and cuff, for more important events.

There are several layers to the heavy costume, and Yao Shen dreads having to wear it during the upcoming summer months in Hengdian.

Filming will start in spring, but it will stretch out all through summer and finish around the end of August.

If Yao Shen is already sweating under the artificial lighting of the studio, he can only imagine how much worse it will be under the scorching summer sun while filming outdoors scenes.

After some parts of the costume have been pinned in place, and the stylists have taken note of the alterations that need to be made, Yao Shen is escorted towards the set where the photographer is already waiting.

He's being shot in front of a green screen for easy editing, with two bright lights turned towards him. His only props are Yan Shuyi's spiritual weapons, the sword Three Autumns, the guqin Final Slumber, and the bamboo fan Merciless.

"Let's just take a few shots of laoshi on his own," the photographer says, holding up his camera and waving Yao Shen towards the center.

Yao Shen follows his instructions and poses with a straight back and lowered shoulders, projecting Yan Shuyi's calm resolve.

"Now look over your shoulder," the photographer says, the shutter of his camera clicking rapidly. "Not at the camera, just slightly off center, that's it. Smile, but not too much."

Yao Shen's gaze is fixed on a random point over the photographer's shoulder, just in the right direction to see Xin Hulei make his way towards the set.

He's wearing Xie Huan's trademark red and black robes, yet another glaring visual cue, considering that while Frozen Peak didn't have a sect uniform, most disciples and masters stuck to less extravagant colors and patterns.

Their eyes meet across the distance, and Yao Shen can't help the scowl that twists his features.

"Hold that look," the photographer says. "I like the intensity, it's a good way to show the character is a powerful cultivator that should not be underestimated."

Yao Shen has no problem following the photographer's cues, it's easy for him to look serious with Xin Hulei and his glacial good looks under his field of vision.

---

After a few closeups and full-body shots, the photographer has him pose with Yan Shuyi's spirit weapons. Yao Shen breezes through a series of different poses without issue, and not ten minutes later the photographer tells him he's done for now, and calls Xin Hulei forward.

Now it's Yao Shen's turn to observe from the sidelines.

The minute Xin Hulei steps in front of the camera his entire demeanor changes.

Yao Shen only has to adjust certain aspects of himself to match Yan Shuyi's character, but for Xin Hulei the difference is like night and day.

Where Xin Hulei is frosty and closed-off, Xie Huan is fiery and passionate, his face animated by his tempestuous moods. He poses for the camera with the smirking arrogance of a young man who thinks he can swallow the world whole and pick his teeth with his enemy's bones.

On one of the photos with Xie Huan's spiritual weapon, the sword Tempest, he points it at the photographer and leans his face over the blade, his upper lip curling up in disdain.

The challenging look in his eyes, says, "Strike, if you dare."

Yao Shen curses him under his breath. The bastard really is a phenomenal actor, to be able to convey a character's personality in such an economic way, and through still poses, no less.

He would be lying if he said it didn't make him feel a little inadequate.

The photographer lowers his camera. "Ok, we're ready for the couple shots," he says nudging his chin towards Yao Shen.

The props are cleared, and it's just him and Xin Hulei, staring at each other.

While the photographer re-sets his equipment, Xin Hulei looks at Yao Shen in that same detached way of his, as if Yao Shen is beneath his notice, but as soon as everything is in place he snaps back into character. One of his arms wraps around Yao Shen's waist, pulling him against his chest without warning.

"Great! Yao laoshi keep the wide-eyed look," the photographer says, the camera's shutter clicking wildly.

Xin Hulei smirks down at him, desire burning in his heated gaze, threatening to spillover.

Yao Shen feels his cheeks heat up under the intensity of that gaze, and bashfully averts his eyes.

Luckily for him, it's not completely out-of-character, Yan Shuyi did resist Xie Huan's initial advances, unable to see his disciple in a romantic light at first.

Xie Huan enjoyed himself tremendously while breaking down every wall of modesty and propriety Yan Shuyi put up.

Being looked at with that much naked hunger -- Yao Shen understands why Yan Shuyi was unable to resist Xie Huan's magnetic charm.

The photographer calls for a change in position, and before Yao Shen even has the time to catch his breath, Xin Hulei spins him around in his arms.

Yao Shen lets out a startled gasp as his back meets Xin Hulei's chest, which turns into a humiliating squeak when Yao Shen noses along the line of his neck, his long lashes brushing against his bare skin.

That's only a prelude to what he truly wants, which is to tilt Yao Shen's chin upwards so it looks like he's looking up at Xin Hulei in supplication.

His throat works around nothing, he lets out a small gasp.

Yao Shen has never had this much skin contact with another actor. His previous roles where all secondary, and either his character didn't have a love-line of his own, or if he did it was more of a puppy-love kind of romance, with a single kiss scene at best.

He is going to have to pull himself together if he doesn't want to humiliate himself in front of Xin Hulei and look like even more of a rookie than he is.

---

The photoshoot comes to an end, at last.

Yao Shen feels like he has run a marathon, he can't wait to get out of the costume and leave.

Xin Hulei already shook off Xie Huan's fiery temper and is back to his mask of cool detachment.

Which is why it surprises Yao Shen when one of his hands closes around his wrist, stopping him on the way to the dressing room.

He leans towards Xin Hulei, speaking quietly near his ear, "Yan Shuyi might have been a virgin before he met Xie Huan, but he wasn't a flustered maiden. You can't blush and avert your eyes every time I touch you."

His tone isn't malicious or chiding, just matter-of-fact. Perhaps that's what bothers Yao Shen so much.

"You just surprised me, that's all," he says, glaring at Xin Hulei. "I know how to do this character justice."

Xin Hulei's impassive eyes gaze into Yao Shen's, as if searching for something.

Yao Shen isn't sure if he finds it, but he lets go of his wrist with a curt nod.

Afterwards, Yao Shen's wrist feels cold where Xin Hulei's fingers wrapped around it.